Rides and Races - Toronto Fixed

P.S. [Shiznaz] Are you running fixed, SS freewheel, or converted freehub body with spacers?

Converted freehub body with spacers, so I have the option to run more than one cog at the same time.

Converted freehub body with spacers, so I have the option to run more than one cog at the same time.

Nice. We really will match. Get ready for this next post of mine. Should be exciting...

Come one, come all!

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c235/Sirrobinofcoxly/Winterrideposter.jpg (http://www.mybigride.com/journal/2006/12/11/1st-annual-bf-toronto-fixed-winter-snow-ride-invitational.html)

Click for bigger better view!

Awesome, as long as it doesn't snow Wednesday night. Don't think I can blow off an exam to ride my bike in the snow. The prof might not be too sympathetic. Have to get the fixed wheel for the snow. Don't really want to go s/s with only a front brake.

Awesome, as long as it doesn't snow Wednesday night. Don't think I can blow off an exam to ride my bike in the snow. The prof might not be too sympathetic. Have to get the fixed wheel for the snow. Don't really want to go s/s with only a front brake.

I don't think it's going to snow for the next week or so anyhow. Rain rain, warm and more rain. It will probably be after x-mas before this thing is able to happen. But it's fun to dream (and make posters) isn't it?

Good Vibes.

http://closednode.net/incoming/Barrington_Levy-CollieWeed.oog

If you find under 16 let me know where you got it. I’ve been looking but no luck.
Cheers

Also think I might order a pound of I deal - prince of darkness if the shipping isn’t too crazy. I now have a grinder.

If the Mr. Whirly ends up w/ this sort of finish I am so ****ing sold:

http://altbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/IMG_0223_500.jpg

... but the shot's probably just underexposed, because no other photo of it looks like this.

Keith I can't buy that Fuji frame off you yet! WSIB fineally paid me some money but gave me 2501.04, they owe me 8036.00:mad: :mad: :mad: I REALLY HATE WSIB:mad:

If I only went offroad and wanted a low ratio
http://www.misfitpsycles.com/catalog/images/Crank-White-Ind.jpg

Stainless one piece? Pure sex.

Nice deals out there

http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/247374747.html

and for the mtb crowd
http://toronto.craigslist.org/bik/247595046.html

This could be good for someone here, I am sure the seller would allow local pickup. Does anyone here ride a Cyclemania rig? They came up in conversation here a little while ago and I think the consensus was that they are okayish, just a bit ulgy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Road-Frame-Fork-57cm_W0QQitemZ280059046279QQihZ018QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This could be good for someone here, I am sure the seller would allow local pickup. Does anyone here ride a Cyclemania rig? They came up in conversation here a little while ago and I think the consensus was that they are okayish, just a bit ulgy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Road-Frame-Fork-57cm_W0QQitemZ280059046279QQihZ018QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, that was me curious about them. Complete for $495 on Bloor. Pretty decent components as well. Going to watch that one and put a late bid in perhaps.

This could be good for someone here, I am sure the seller would allow local pickup. Does anyone here ride a Cyclemania rig? They came up in conversation here a little while ago and I think the consensus was that they are okayish, just a bit ulgy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fixed-Gear-Single-Speed-Road-Frame-Fork-57cm_W0QQitemZ280059046279QQihZ018QQcategoryZ98084QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Beh - don't buy into other peoples problems.

you can get something like it at Tap Phong for $2; vietnamese coffee maker. i can attest to its quality

Not the same thing at all... the Viet. ones just use gravity, this one is a press. Apparently they make really fine coffee too.

http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm

I've been thinking about trying one out as well.

Not the same thing at all... the Viet. ones just use gravity, this one is a press. Apparently they make really fine coffee too.

http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm

I've been thinking about trying one out as well.

i stand corrected; i was just thinking that for $2 it's probably less hassle.

those race face cranks,rings and XTR BB are still up for grabs I think
Is the two SS cogs with spacers a difficult setup? I'll be running 42 in the front and with a tensioner, it would be cool to have a couple choices. Polished? Urbane? Fully down for fat tyre Leslie Spit snow rides...all we need now is a good dump of snow.

those race face cranks,rings and XTR BB are still up for grabs I think
Is the two SS cogs with spacers a difficult setup? I'll be running 42 in the front and with a tensioner, it would be cool to have a couple choices. Polished? Urbane? Fully down for fat tyre Leslie Spit snow rides...all we need now is a good dump of snow.

it would seem that the spacer / cog set up is even less fussy than a SS specific hub. the other cog would just slip on the freehub as a spacer does. maybe the experts here could comment on this but i would imagine that running a derailleur as a tensioner would be a great choice as you wouldn't have to worry about chainline...

Converted freehub body with spacers, so I have the option to run more than one cog at the same time.

It would be cool to run two cogs, and two chainrings. Say like 34/17 for offroad and a 36/15 for slop covered roads.

it would seem that the spacer / cog set up is even less fussy than a SS specific hub. the other cog would just slip on the freehub as a spacer does. maybe the experts here could comment on this but i would imagine that running a derailleur as a tensioner would be a great choice as you wouldn't have to worry about chainline...

I can't see a problem with using two cogs with spacers. If it was one chainring I would set the 2 cogs a little off center of it so the chain line would be a little off with both, but nothing severe. Not nearly the chainline issues with s/s as there is with fixed. The tensioner should have enough lateral movement to work. A deraileur would work no problem. I would still make sure I had non-ramped chainrings and cogs even with a tensioner. Other option is to do like Sirrobin did, do a double chainring/double cog. Either both on the inner with spacers and long CR bolts, or one on the inner/outer. Should work with a mtb crank. Would still work with a s/s specific hub, mine is made to be used with spacers, I just threaded a cog on instead. Can't get it off now, but that's not the issue.

It would be cool to run two cogs, and two chainrings. Say like 34/17 for offroad and a 36/15 for slop covered roads.

38/16 and 35/19 is the magic number for on/off road. Same chainlength.

I can't see a problem with using two cogs with spacers. If it was one chainring I would set the 2 cogs a little off center of it so the chain line would be a little off with both, but nothing severe. Not nearly the chainline issues with s/s as there is with fixed. The tensioner should have enough lateral movement to work. A deraileur would work no problem. I would still make sure I had non-ramped chainrings and cogs even with a tensioner. Other option is to do like Sirrobin did, do a double chainring/double cog. Either both on the inner with spacers and long CR bolts, or one on the inner/outer. Should work with a mtb crank. Would still work with a s/s specific hub, mine is made to be used with spacers, I just threaded a cog on instead. Can't get it off now, but that's not the issue.

Wouldn't the deraileur put too much side force on the chain if it were fixed in place as a tensioner and you're running two different cogs? Never tried it, but seems to me like it would always be trying to pull the chain off. I have used one cog on the back and a MTB triple on the front which worked well. 48X38x28 on the front gives you a pretty large range to work with on the back- regular,easy and 15%grade with a load easy.

Keith said Shimano makes SS specific cogs that will thread onto the body.. two cogs would be kinda cool....

Keith said Shimano makes SS specific cogs that will thread onto the body.. two cogs would be kinda cool....
The ****mano cogs slide on just like cassette cogs....a bunch o spacers and the standard lockring.

Wouldn't the deraileur put too much side force on the chain if it were fixed in place as a tensioner and you're running two different cogs? Never tried it, but seems to me like it would always be trying to pull the chain off. I have used one cog on the back and a MTB triple on the front which worked well. 48X38x28 on the front gives you a pretty large range to work with on the back- regular,easy and 15%grade with a load easy.

I've never used the deraileur as a tensioner so I can't say 100% if it would work with 2 cogs. I've read about them and seen it used. In theory it should work if the chain was a little off. I don't like pull down tensioners though, not enough cog engagment. My mtb has horizontal drops so I manage to do with out a tensioner.

Do you use a tensioner to run the triple crank to one cog?

The ****mano cogs slide on just like cassette cogs....a bunch o spacers and the standard lockring.

Bmx cogs right? I ordered a cheap one from Misfit. I was too lazy to run around looking for a non ramped 14t cog.

well at least for the time being I am going to be running a 16t in the back with the triple in front (42 34 24), so I should have a big choice of gears to choose from assuming the chainline works. I know I'll want to take off the triple soon enough though (I'd like to get a bash guard sort of setup ideally)

Eventually I'll find a replacement crank and I'll play around between chainrings. I can't decide whether to go Robin's double 32T style route, or pyze guy's equal total number of teeth style. Either way, I already have a 16T cog, so I would imagine 36x16 and 34x18 would be a good range to start in. Whatever unramped chainrings are cheap and available really.

I'll be using an SS specific chain tensioner so I'm not sure how much lateral play I can manage.

why can't we have something like this (http://bikeportland.org/bikecraft/bikecraft06/bikecraft06vendors) in toronto?

well at least for the time being I am going to be running a 16t in the back with the triple in front (42 34 24), so I should have a big choice of gears to choose from assuming the chainline works. I know I'll want to take off the triple soon enough though (I'd like to get a bash guard sort of setup ideally)

Eventually I'll find a replacement crank and I'll play around between chainrings. I can't decide whether to go Robin's double 32T style route, or pyze guy's equal total number of teeth style. Either way, I already have a 16T cog, so I would imagine 36x16 and 34x18 would be a good range to start in. Whatever unramped chainrings are cheap and available really.

I'll be using an SS specific chain tensioner so I'm not sure how much lateral play I can manage.

Are you planning to use all 3 chainrings, or just picking 1? I can't see a tensioner picking up enough of the chain slack to work with the difference between 42t and 24t. Not saying it wouldn't, just having a difficult time picturing it in my mind.

the triple crank/one cog bike was the one I used a deraileur on- it doesn't exist anymore 'cause I kept bolting stuff on to the bike and now it's a utility bike with a 7sp rear. I think I might even put the front derailleur back on so I can shift on the fly 'cause it's hard to hold up a loaded bike and put the chain on another ring at the same time. ANYHOW... not only do you need to run a tensioner, but I think it has to be a derailleur in order to run the 3 ring/1 cog combo- unless there's a tensioner out there that will take up 20T worth of slack!

PS- is the snow ride fixed-only? My fixed is still in the "project" stage due to budgetary constraints, but if mountain bikes are welcome I'm in!

38/16 and 35/19 is the magic number for on/off road. Same chainlength.

Any combination of cog/chainwheel that conserves the same total number of teeth will be *very* close to the same chain length.

Any combination of cog/chainwheel that conserves the same total number of teeth will be *very* close to the same chain length.

True enough. I was just trying to show off by throwing around words like magic and gears.

Are you planning to use all 3 chainrings, or just picking 1? I can't see a tensioner picking up enough of the chain slack to work with the difference between 42t and 24t. Not saying it wouldn't, just having a difficult time picturing it in my mind.

I may have to shorten the chain, but I'll have the option of testing out each gear to give me a taste. I highly doubt any tensioner could take up that much slack. Unless I bolted on an 8 inch extension. That would be funky.

ps:http://www.singlespeed.net/images/main/jones.jpg

Wouldn't the deraileur put too much side force on the chain if it were fixed in place as a tensioner and you're running two different cogs? Never tried it, but seems to me like it would always be trying to pull the chain off. I have used one cog on the back and a MTB triple on the front which worked well. 48X38x28 on the front gives you a pretty large range to work with on the back- regular,easy and 15%grade with a load easy.

I used to run a rear derailleur as a chain tensioner, with two cassette cogs on the back of my winter bike. I locked the rear drailleur in place with a short peice of shifter cable running from the barrel adjuster to the cable fixing bolt. Then I could turn the barrel adjuster to shift between my two gears. It worked nicely, I could get off the bike and shift to my alternate gear in a few seconds.

I used to run a rear derailleur as a chain tensioner, with two cassette cogs on the back of my winter bike. I locked the rear drailleur in place with a short peice of shifter cable running from the barrel adjuster to the cable fixing bolt. Then I could turn the barrel adjuster to shift between my two gears. It worked nicely, I could get off the bike and shift to my alternate gear in a few seconds.

Good idea! I thought about doing that just to fix the derailleur in the case that the limit screws wouldn't do the job- but never thought about tweaking it on the fly like that. :)

PS- is the snow ride fixed-only? My fixed is still in the "project" stage due to budgetary constraints, but if mountain bikes are welcome I'm in!

I don't think I'm planning on making my new mtb fixed... I don't really see the point. If I'm going to be held back by such a little gear on the road I at least want to be able to coast down hills and such.

I could make a project of rebuilding my wheels with disc hubs and bolt a cog on the rear disk mount, and do the double cog and spacers on the cassette splines for 2 SS gears and 1 fixed gear. I even have a spare disk fork for the front. Would a 700c fork work alright on a 26' rigid mtb?

I may have to shorten the chain, but I'll have the option of testing out each gear to give me a taste. I highly doubt any tensioner could take up that much slack. Unless I bolted on an 8 inch extension. That would be funky.

ps:http://www.singlespeed.net/images/main/jones.jpg

those jones bikes are crazy. i like the design of his bars but not the price. reminds me of moustache bars a little.

I could make a project of rebuilding my wheels with disc hubs and bolt a cog on the rear disk mount, and do the double cog and spacers on the cassette splines for 2 SS gears and 1 fixed gear. I even have a spare disk fork for the front. Would a 700c fork work alright on a 26' rigid mtb?

This is sounding like a fun project bike. Do you have a disc compatible CX fork or something? I think a 26" MTB wheel should fit in there, the OD of the tire is comparable between the two. The clearance on either side of the tire will be the limiting factor- it could limit your tire choice to something on the smaller end of the width spectrum. On my CX forks, (kinisis and redline aluminum) it would work, except the canti stud location-some carbon forks look a little tighter though.

I need to resurect my SS/fixed MTB. It's been canabalized for spare parts-it looks at me like a beaten dog when I walk past it. So many bicycles.....

those jones bikes are crazy. i like the design of his bars but not the price. reminds me of moustache bars a little.
That bike is even sweeter in real life. It is just crawling with excellent craftsmanship. But the $7000 price tag is a bit of a turn off.

That bike is even sweeter in real life. It is just crawling with excellent craftsmanship. But the $7000 price tag is a bit of a turn off.

yes, that is a bit of a drag. jeff jones seems like a bit of an eccentric character too, which adds to the charm. seems to be picking up where matt chester left off. too bad MC isn't making frames any more, it would have been a dream ride for me.

where did you see a jones in real life?

This is sounding like a fun project bike. Do you have a disc compatible CX fork or something? I think a 26" MTB wheel should fit in there, the OD of the tire is comparable between the two. The clearance on either side of the tire will be the limiting factor- it could limit your tire choice to something on the smaller end of the width spectrum. On my CX forks, (kinisis and redline aluminum) it would work, except the canti stud location-some carbon forks look a little tighter though.

I need to resurect my SS/fixed MTB. It's been canabalized for spare parts-it looks at me like a beaten dog when I walk past it. So many bicycles.....

I have this fork:
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/COMPFKCROSS/FK1267
No canti studs or anything to get in the way and pretty wide. I was more wondering if the bike handling would be messed up by using a longer fork.

I can see it now, the ultimate dorky commuter winter mullet bike. Full fenders, 2 speed freewheel, 1 speed fixed, disc in front, v in back...

I think keith mentioned he saw a jones at a 24 hour mtb race or something. There was a small crowd gathered around it.

yes, that is a bit of a drag. jeff jones seems like a bit of an eccentric character too, which adds to the charm. seems to be picking up where matt chester left off. too bad MC isn't making frames any more, it would have been a dream ride for me.

where did you see a jones in real life?
at the August 24 hour...they had that exact bike in the Misfit booth. After MUCHO schmoozing I got to ride it in a 25 ft circle. The welds are beautiful and the thought that went into the girder fork design is brilliant. The thing is gossamer light.

What's the deal with the extra tubes at the front end of the bike? Is it just for added strength?

It would be cool to run two cogs, and two chainrings. Say like 34/17 for offroad and a 36/15 for slop covered roads.

When I was just starting out with bikes I did this exact thing.
2 chainrings. 22 and 32 and a 18 and 14 cogs or something similar to that (a?)effect.
One chain. It took me forever to figure out the exact combination.

The idea was to ride trialsy style with the super low gearing..
(I like wheelies)
then the switcheroo for the ride home.

Pyze, the 2 cogs with 2mm chainline offset will work great as long as your tensioner has a good spring.
+1 to non ramped teeth.

Your images of new SS parts get me wet.

What's the deal with the extra tubes at the front end of the bike? Is it just for added strength?
The whole kit and kabooble is TI. Because of the flexy nature of TI the extra triangulation provides stiffness for steering response. It flexes a fair bit for give in the rough stuff. Merlin did something very similar years ago but gave up on it due to the work and cost involved.

Is the two SS cogs with spacers a difficult setup? I'll be running 42 in the front and with a tensioner, it would be cool to have a couple choices. Polished? Urbane? Fully down for fat tyre Leslie Spit snow rides...all we need now is a good dump of snow.

That's what I'm running, and it's smooth and quiet. You can perfect the chainline with the spacers, and a tweaked out derailer works fine as a tensioner. Just put in the set screws so that is stays in one place side to side.

EDIT: If you are running two in the back, you might run into some trouble. Might have to change the position of the screws when you choose the other gear, or run a simple friction shifter, and cable to it to keet it tensioned where you want it for that gear. I know I know, "SHIFTER?".

The whole kit and kabooble is TI. Because of the flexy nature of TI the extra triangulation provides stiffness for steering response. It flexes a fair bit for give in the rough stuff. Merlin did something very similar years ago but gave up on it due to the work and cost involved.
If we are talking about Ti I have a question:

I had my friend I'm going to be touring with over from Hamilton last weekend and he was inspecting my bike stash. He found my XTR cassette I got at the fall bike show and immediately starting telling me it was not a great choice because some of the cogs are titanium so they will wear faster. Wouldn't the titanium cogs wear slower than the Al cogs? Do I actually have to worry?

If we are talking about Ti I have a question:

I had my friend I'm going to be touring with over from Hamilton last weekend and he was inspecting my bike stash. He found my XTR cassette I got at the fall bike show and immediately starting telling me it was not a great choice because some of the cogs are titanium so they will wear faster. Wouldn't the titanium cogs wear slower than the Al cogs? Do I actually have to worry?

I have heard that Ti rings wear faster, and that is why you only see them on larger cogs, because they share the chain surface more. Then why are Ti shavers the new thing? Wouldn't they become dull faster>|?

I have heard that Ti rings wear faster, and that is why you only see them on larger cogs, because they share the chain surface more. Then why are Ti shavers the new thing? Wouldn't they become dull faster>|?

bah, well you did your big ride on a crazy lightweight high zoot carbon wonder road machine and seemed to make it home without the bike exploding. I'm sure I will manage with an XTR cassette in the back.

i stand corrected; i was just thinking that for $2 it's probably less hassle.

the water has more time to percolate in the vietnamese one... stronger brew. and damn it's two bucks. (is it?)

I was more wondering if the bike handling would be messed up by using a longer fork.

Should be fine. Most cross forks are around 400-410mm axle to crown. Modern rigid MTB forks are typically longer than that, to match 80 mm travel suspension forks. Really old school rigid MTB forks are around, or slightly under 400 mm IIRC. You are probably talking about steepening your head and ST angles by less than 1 degree, and maybe dropping the BB height by less than 1 cm. Both things are no big deal and should actually improve the handling a bit.